A REVOLUTIONARY JOURNEY
For the nation’s 250th anniversary, the American Battlefield Trust and its many state partners are creating a unified path of interpretation to tell the unforgettable stories of the American Revolution.
What is The Liberty Trail?
The American Revolution turned towns, coasts, swamps, fields and mountains into battlegrounds for liberty. The Liberty Trail combines digital tours, on-site experiences and land preservation to help you follow in the footsteps of everyday heroes who determined the fate of American independence on the battlefield and beyond.
The Liberty Trail website and series of smartphone apps act as a tour guide in your pocket for the Trail. They are free, flexible, and easy-to-use. Features include:
A Revolutionary Work in Progress
Founded in South Carolina in 2019, The Liberty Trail network is expanding to tell the full story of the American Revolution. The American Battlefield Trust proposes to build The Liberty Trail with digital tours, on-site experiences, and land preservation across 25 states during the Semiquincentennial period (2025-2033) and completed in phases to be ready for major battle anniversaries and events. The Liberty Trail works closely with private, municipal, and state partners to support local programming and heritage tourism goals.
The American Battlefield Trust and its partners will continue to update this program beyond 2033 so future generations can explore our nation’s fight for freedom. Eventually, the Trail will expand to include War of 1812 and other conflicts tied to the American Revolution, its origins, and its legacy.
Blazing the Trail in South Carolina
The Liberty Trail was founded in 2019 as a partnership between the American Battlefield Trust and the South Carolina Battleground Trust to connect Revolutionary War battlefields across South Carolina. The vision was ambitious: protect thousands of acres of battlefield land and link dozens of sites that would tell the captivating and inspiring stories of this transformative chapter of American history in the state. Today, this partnership has brought nearly 40 sites to life with a combination of preservation, unique on-site interpretation, and cutting-edge digital features, and continues to grow.
The overwhelming success of The Liberty Trail in South Carolina demonstrated the need to expand this vision to other states and create additional opportunities for the public to experience our nation’s hallowed Revolutionary War battlegrounds. In 2025, the American Battlefield Trust and its partners set a new goal: bring The Liberty Trail model established in South Carolina to 25 states in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Learn more about the founding vision in South Carolina here.
Submit a Site
Want your site included on The Liberty Trail?
Please complete this form with as much detail as possible and a photo (.jpg), for consideration. Sites can be battlefields, museums, parks, trails, historic homes, cemeteries, or markers, but should be 1) publicly accessible and 2) interpret or preserve a story significant to a Revolutionary War-era event or person.
The Liberty Trail team will respond to your request within 2-4 weeks. Sites that are added to The Liberty Trail will be featured on our list of historic sites.
QUESTIONS?
Please reach out to thelibertytrail@battlefields.org
Our Valued Partners
In South Carolina:
The South Carolina Battleground Trust
The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit corporation established in 1991 and dedicated to the preservation of South Carolina’s historic battlegrounds and military sites. Working with property owners, developers, and local/state agencies, the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust has successfully preserved historic properties throughout South Carolina. The organization preserves South Carolina's military heritage employing a variety of tools from conservation easements and land acquisitions to high-tech ground-based laser scanning surveys and public interpretation with the goal of ensuring the state’s military heritage sites are not forgotten and there to study, discuss and reflect upon for future generations.
The South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust has partnered with the American Battlefield Trust to lead this historic effort to protect The Liberty Trail’s battlefields and bring them to life. Learn more about them at https://www.scbattlegroundtrust.org.
Lead Sponsor
The Liberty Trail would not be possible without the generosity of Lorna Hainesworth, Ambassador and National Traveler. Ms. Hainesworth has visited each and every stop on The Liberty Trail, and many places beyond. We are beyond grateful for her generosity.
Additional Thanks
The Liberty Trail would also not be possible without numerous valued partners at the federal, state and local levels.
In New Jersey:
Revolution NJ
RevolutionNJ is a partnership between the New Jersey Historical Commission (NJHC), a division of the New Jersey Department of State, and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association to plan the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in New Jersey.
Additional Thanks